“My parents said someone came over giving us like a welcome basket. I thought it was so sweet. I haven’t gone to say thank you yet. I'm worried I'll show up looking sweaty from all the things I do every day in front of a guy my age.” Bex rambled on as we walked down the hallway.

I could burst her bubble right now. Say her sweet neighbor next door isn't some casanova or a guy at all. I could also tell her how I saw her sleep outside once and how I haven't looked out my window since, afraid she might catch me so I don't even try.  But I just hoped Diara nor Caleb was at their lockers right now.

I got out of German to show Bex around the school. I should have been connected the dots together that if she was my new neighbor she was also a new student at the school. And since I was running kind of late to class in the hallways I ended up running into a teacher who was giving Bex a tour. Luckily for me, the teacher did most of the work. I just needed to help her find her locker.

She was more of a talker than I was. I mean I could talk but I couldn't focus on how to start on a conversation. I just replied, answered, or nodded to what she said. Eventually, we found her locker and I checked my phone for the time.

“Thanks for your help,” Bex said opening her locker as the bell rung.

“No problem, see ya.” I said waving goodbye and she waved back.

Diara and Caleb eventually caught up to me out of school. Thankfully neither caught me with Bex. I told them both a little about her. Caleb might not have caught on but Diara sure would have and tease me. But it wasn't that serious. Diara always talks about how hot a guy might be. But when I say something all attention is drawn to me. I guess I shouldn't have been surprised since my friends aren't used to it. I don't find many attractive.  

Caleb and Diara walked me to my bus. Since I had a new bus driver they weren't use to this and was irritated when the two didn't follow me onto the bus. I sat in the middle area and fell asleep against the window. Thank goodness the other kids on the bus was nice enough to wake me up.

When I got home I immediately started on homework. German class gave us a huge packet that was due at the end of this week, Caleb gave it to me before I went on the bus. Ma was home mopping the floors so I had to remember to not walk out of my room until she said so. Also meant I couldn't go get snacks, drinks, or use the bathroom so I deeply regretted not doing so. I kept reaching down for a cup or a water bottle that wasn't there.

“I'm running to the store! Don't open the door. For anyone!” Ma’s voice boomed suddenly, echoing through the house.

“Okay!” I yelled back before hearing the front door open and close.

While doing my homework I heard knocking at the door. I decided to ignore it, but the doorbell was rung. Muttering I put my homework up as I heard more knocking. Eventually, I got out of bed and left my room. I took careful but quick steps to get to the front door. Ma said not to open the door for anyone but I'm pretty sure she would want me to open the door for her. And I'm not stupid.

I peeked into the peephole to see none other than Bex. My breath got caught in my throat as I stumbled back swallowing. I took a deep breath and unlocked the door opening only the front door, not the screen door. Technically a door was still closed. She stood there holding a basket in one hand and a pitcher in the other. Both belonging to my mother.

“O-Oh..it's you,” she said and I mentally groaned before smiling tightly.

“Yeah, sorry,” I mumbled as she passed me the things over.

“No! Don't be, I'm sorry if what I said offended you in anyway..” she began to ramble off and I shook my head genuinely smiling this time.

“It's okay, thanks for bringing these back,” I said closing the door.

“Thank you for the treats.” I heard her say from a distance as I closed the door then locked it.

Finally, I glanced at the floor. I could see again footprints that belonged to me. I put mom's things up while mentally preparing for mom's reaction when she came back. Well, that was going to be the plan but instead I mopped the floor again after getting snacks and a drink before heading back to my room.

Around the same time I was getting done with a certain section of the packet, I heard the front door open. I bit my lip as I tried to listen carefully.

“I'm home!” I hear dad's voice ring out through the house causing me to sigh in relief.

“Is Peta with you?!” I yelled while finishing up my work.

“No! So want to go driving?” he suggested while I heard shuffling.

I groaned out loud for him to hear. “Driving?!” I repeated.

“Yeah, that's what I said!” he yelled back.

Before I could yell a response he appeared at my door. He gave me his “dad” look, it wasn't as scary as mom's. But he gave the look in a nice way.

“If you're going to get a job you'll need to drive eventually. If you're going to live somewhere else you're going to need to drive.” he explained.

“I think needing to drive is overrated. I don't need to drive. It might be helpful but also unhelpful to the environment.” I argued and he just stared at me before leaning on the doorway.

“Do you want to ever leave the house without having to walk or ask for us to drive you?” he asked.

I shrugged while putting my work away. “I don't really go out in the first place.”

“You don't now but wait for it, driving will be useful eventually. Especially if you ever want your own car.” he said pulling out his car keys. “Let's go, dad and daughter bonding time.” he said walking away and I groaned getting out of bed.

We walked out of the house together. I muttered as he opened the passenger door for me. Glancing at him he nodded at the car and I grumbled getting in. He closed the door gently and walked around getting on the driver's side. I looked out the window as he started the car and pulled out of the driveway.

Dad wanted to teach me how to drive during the summer but I always had summer camp. He thought whenever I dropped it we could drive. But since I haven't heard randomly brings up driving. It's not like I hated driving it was more the fear of driving off the road, driving into something, and so many more possible situations that could happen.

“Karter?” I heard dad speak up and I glanced at him to see a frown on his face. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah..” I said shaking my head and let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. “So what abandon store are we going to now?” I asked grinning at him and he seemed to relax while rolling his eyes with a smile.

“Empty parking lot of today is going to be Target.” he answered as he stopped at a stop sign before driving on again.

“Good ol’ Target.” I hummed watching the trees and buildings we passed. “Shame they closed it down. What are they going to do with all those empty buildings?”

“I heard Walmart was taking the building over.” he replied.

“So they're gonna paint the red balls blue?” I asked earning a chuckle from dad.

“Maybe.” he hummed as he made a few turns eventually leading us to the huge empty parking lot.

He parked in a spot, perfectly. Something that I struggled to do with my height and in his car. I was short and the seats can be moved up. But the seats don't move high enough for me to see well enough to park or drive really without being more nervous.

He got out the car while I just crawled over to the driver's seat. Once he got in the passenger seat and had his seatbelt on and I had mine on he pressed the button to move up the seat. He's been hoping I would just grow but even my doctor said I probably wouldn't be growing any taller.

“Sorry, no phone books with me today.” he said with a grin and I glared at him as the chair stopped moving up. “So I want you to pull out without going past any lines to break up the parking space, the lines are the cars.”

I nodded taking a deep breath as I looked down at the pedals. I pressed on the brake pedal then put the car in reverse. Turning around I tried pulling out carefully by going as slow as I could. I ended up almost going over the lines but I pulled out successfully.

“Good job, now make a turn to drive straight and make a left. Once you drive around in the circle make a right the second time.” he went on to giving me tasks and I eventually stopped listening.

I couldn't remember all that, try to control the wheel, and control my nervousness. My hands gripped the wheel as I tried driving straight and not hit the sidewalk, signs, or anything. Dad mumbled encouragement but it wasn't louder than my thoughts. They only took over more when a huge truck and some other cars joined us in the parking lot.

My heartbeat seemed to have sped up and so did my breathing. It was thinking against my chest as my hands felt slippery on the wheel. Dad's lips were moving but I couldn't hear anything. All I could hear was the panic thoughts racing through my head.

“It's okay! Just drive, keep driving.” I eventually heard him say and I did what he said, ignoring the thoughts.

I drove around twice, those were his next instructions. The truck started to leave but the two other cars didn't seem like they were leaving anytime soon. I stopped at stop signs. I drove past the cars and the session ended with me parking.

“Good job,” Dad said glancing at me as I sighed in relief.

“Yeah..” I muttered as he opened the door and got out the car while I crawled over back to the passenger seat.

I put on my seatbelt as dad gets in the car. He put on his seatbelt also. Once we got settled he started the car. Before pulling off dad turned his head in my direction.

“So, want to drive us home?” he asked with a sheepish smile.

“I'm going to pretend you didn't ask that.” I muttered instead of saying what I really wanted to say. Which dealt between the words “hell” and “no”. The first one would probably never be allowed for me to say.  I looked away from him as he chuckled while backing out the parking space.